In this episode, our host Mike Nelson interviews Derek Lloyd, an army vet who's seen his share of action in Afghanistan! They discuss the intense conditions in a battle zone, the importance of camaraderie in that situation, why it's so difficult to build that kind of kinship as civilians, and more in this in-depth episode!

A GLENS FALLS TODAY PRODUCTION

NOTE: The opinions reflected in this podcast are not indicative of the views of Saratoga Business Report, SaratogaBride.com LLC, Saratoga TODAY, Glens Falls TODAY, or Spa City Digital.

00:06 - Introduction

02:11 - Walking 22 Miles… To Raise Awareness! Oh, My Aching Feet!

04:11 - Straight Out of High School

05:35 - Deploying to Djibouti: Horrific Heat Levels!

08:59 - 178th Airborne: Finally Seeing Combat!

10:25 - From Bush to Obama: Changing Rules of Engagement, Cooperating With a Questionable Force

12:39 - One Engagement, Every Single Day… Ambushes Along the Infamous Korengal Road

15:39 - Dealing With a Triple-Stack Anti-Tank Mine!

18:29 - Escaping the Stress… Has its Risks, But it’s Necessary!

20:39 - One Shower a Month, No Time for Laundry!

21:52 - An Electrified Truck Ride

23:40 - The Hollywood Wars: Don’t Even Come Close to Reality!

24:09 - It’s Hard to Forget… Losing That Camaraderie Hurts. Making Friends as an Adult Civilian is Hard!

27:01 - Veteran Support: Money is One Thing, But Time is Precious!

29:04 - What’s That Cracking Noise?.. The First Shooting

32:15 - Second Time’s the Charm

34:54 - What a Difference an Established Base Makes! No More Moon Dust and Diesel Disposal!

36:42 - Coming Home: A Free Cum Laude From U-Albany!

38:18 - Getting Into the Family Business: Hello, Duke Concrete!

39:45 - Derek’s Advice to Returning Vets: Find Some People You Can Vent To, and Rely On!

41:18 - Pearl Harbor Mixer at the Slick Fin Brewery, December 7th!

42:04 - The Revitalization of Fort Edward and Glens Falls

42:52 - Closing Remarks